Quad Biking
Sensible quad bikers wear their oldest clothes and sturdiest footwear. Remember to also
take a change of clothing for after the event because quad biking will cover you from head to
foot in mud. In fact, it's advisable to look in the mirror before returning to the public domain
as mud can get into the strangest of places!
visitscotland.com/adventure
Adventure Advice...
What you need
to know...
Where can I do it?
There are many locations for
quad biking in Scotland,
especially on farmland. A
number of farmers in Scotland
have diversified into
adventure/rural tourism and
quad biking is a popular
pursuit. The Highlands, Fife,
Perthshire, The Scottish
Borders, Dumfries and
Galloway and the Isle of Arran
all offer quad biking
opportunities. See
visitscotland.com/adventure
for a list of providers. Many
operators offer quad biking on
easy tracks for kids as young
as six and Highland Off-road
and Crieff Hydro have
dedicated children's tracks.
Why should I?
It's muddy, it's addictive and
it's a great way to see miles of
Scotland's great outdoors.
Just push the throttle to find
out why for yourself.
How much?
Prices range according to the
centre and the type of outing.
Bank on spending about �25
for 30 minutes of quad biking
on a set course, or about �45
for a one-and-a-half hour bike
trek. The cost for children will
be cheaper for a shorter
duration. 1/2 and full day
tours are also available.
Restrictions may apply, check
with your chosen operator at
time of booking.
visitscotland.com/adventure
A
cross between an off-road car and
a scrambler bike, quad bikes could
have been developed with
Scotland's rugged landscape in mind.
Indeed, the motorised, four-wheel
vehicles were originally designed for
farmers and landowners as a way to eat
up miles on hill and farmland tracks.
Then someone realised just how
much fun it was to drive the all-terrain
bikes along trails � and so the adventure
pursuit of quad biking became available
to the wider public.
These days, there are
numerous quad biking
centres across
Scotland, offering all
kinds of options such
as purpose-built off-
road trails, guided quad
treks, obstacle courses
and even the
occasional
competition.
Quad bikes are also available in
various sizes for a whole range of ages
and abilities. From 50cc quads, which
are suitable for children between the
ages of 6 and 11, to the latest in high-
powered sports bikes, there is a vehicle
to suit your desires and aspirations.
Some centres cater for children as
young as six on smaller bikes and easy-
to-follow child-friendly tracks.
Driving a quad bike is relatively
simple as most are semi-automatic so
drivers only need to worry about brakes
and accelerator, not complicated gears.
All that's really required after that is a
little daring and some upper body
strength.
Be in no doubt, quad biking is often a
messy, dirty and a frequently wet
activity but that's all part of the fun! In
any case, most quad biking centres
provide participants with waterproofs
and a helmet, and possibly even
Wellington boots, which keeps most of
the mud off your own clothing.
To begin with you might like to learn
the skills on a purpose-built quad biking
track, available at a number of centres
across Scotland. From
there, you'll soon be keen to
drive one of these machines
across the wildest of
countryside on a quad
biking trek or tour. Outings
are led by guides or
instructors and are ideal for
families with older children,
couples, groups such as
stag and hen parties and
corporate teams.
Quad bikes have an amazing ability to
climb steep hills, dive through deep
puddles and see off all kinds of natural
obstacles. Just when it looks like you're
about to become stuck � again � your
quad bike goes into action and does
what seems almost impossible.
Another advantage of quad biking is
that it takes you deep into Scotland's
stunning landscape far quicker than on
foot. In more remote locations you'll also
have the chance to spot wildlife,
including deer. Sometimes it's actually
worth stopping for a while to take a good
look round � before you plough on again
at a thrilling pace.
Pic:www.crieffhydro.com
Quad biking at Crieff Hydro
Sponsored by
0845 293 7373
www.hostellingscotland.com
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www.visitscotland.com/adventure
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